Bicycles Network Australia » Wayne Pattersonhttp://www.bicycles.net.au
The Top Australian Cycling PortalTue, 28 Jul 2015 23:21:05 +0000en-UShourly1All I want for Christmas…The Aussie Cycling Industry’s Wish Listhttp://www.bicycles.net.au/2013/11/christmas-aussie-cycling-industry/
http://www.bicycles.net.au/2013/11/christmas-aussie-cycling-industry/#commentsSun, 24 Nov 2013 22:33:25 +0000http://www.bicycles.net.au/?p=9500While a snowy European Christmas is a romantic notion, the reality is that you are stuck inside with your new toys. In Australia, we’re really the lucky country because at Christmas time the weather is usually perfect for the great outdoors. The holiday season is the best time to spend more time on your bike, and since people are giving you gifts, why not get some upgrades?

Our research shows that Aussie cyclists want a happy and healthy cycling industry in Australia, so rather than ask some skinny legged Euro-based cycling stars what they want for Christmas, we asked the managing directors and senior staff at a some of Australia’s biggest bike brands and importers what is on their wishlist this Christmas. We did speak to one sort-of European as well, though he’s not known for his cycling skills.

Santa Says: Well, I won’t be bringing you another pair of these for a while then. My Assos knicks have lasted years, They’re the only knicks I’d use on my Boxing Day recovery ride.

Managing Director of Shimano Australia, Matt Bazzano has the same in mind but ops for Pearl Izumi PRO Bib-shorts.

Santa Says: PI knicks? Horses for courses, Matt. Hmm, they don’t look bad. Do you mind if I try them on before I put them in your stocking? There’s a Santa’s sack joke in there somewhere, but I won’t make it. Ho, Ho, Ho.

Steve Paraskevas, General Manager of Sheppard Cycles Australia is more practical. Even with a wealth of brands under his control, a new lower back is all that it will take to make Steve happy this Christmas.Sheppard Cycles Australia import Avanti, Scott, Raleigh, Haro, Diamondback, Bello, Giro, Rosebank, Park Tool, Blackburn, Kendi, Masi, and Malvern Star plus operate the Avanti Plus chain of bicycle stores.

Santa Says: So you’re looking for yoga classes and a bike fit? No problem, Steve, just sit back and relax.

Santa Says: I’ve got one here that I’ll be putting up in the cycling forum market place on the 26th, if you’re interested.

The General Manager of Cannondale Sports Unlimited, Jeremy Goodale, has opted for his own brand Cannondale and chosen the Synapse Hi-MOD Black Inc, the top of the line endurance (comfort) road bike.Cannondale Sports Unlimited carry Cannondale, GT, Charge, Mongoose, Schwinn & Sugoi

Santiago Campo, Director of Orbea Australia, also goes top of the line with the Orbea Avant MLTD, which features SRAM Red 22 Hydraulic Disc Brakes

Santa Says: Here’s a little bit of history for you – Orbea used to make guns! Now it makes missiles. Ones that stop really quickly. Lovely.

Frank Fortuna, Managing Director of FRF Sports and the Bike Bug store in North Sydney, surprises as he ups-the-ante and motorises his cycling – we might spot Frank on a Derringer motorised bicycle just after Christmas, overtaking the peloton.FRF import Colnago, Ridley, Speedplay and Fulcrum

Santa Says: I’ll grab my track bike and meet you at the velodrome. You could pace me for hours on this.

Co-founder of New Zealand cycle wear company Ground Effect, Guy Wynn-Williams, takes it back down a notch and has penned a letter: “Please Santa, as I’ve been really, really good this year, could I have a ‘growler‘ and bottle cage so I can carry post-ride beer on my fat bike around our local singletrack. Thank you very much Santa.”

Santa Says: No problem, Guy, just don’t go throwing these into the crowds when you’re finished with them. Nice bottles.

Rob Eva is the General Manager of SRAM in Australia and has a big ask: he wants a bike to ride off road on trails, but also to ‘spin on the tarmac’. A bike that allows him to explore and not be restricted to just road or just trails. He has a Cyclocross style bike in mind, light and strong and good for long trips.

Santa Says: Harden up, Princess, every road bike is an off-road bike if you want it to be. CX is about the rider, not the bike. BTW, I think disc brakes are legal in CX; go for the Orbea above. I can get you a deal on the SRAM parts – I know a guy.

Kathryn Franco of Eureka Brands, who takes care of Nutcase helmets, Po Campo, and new Australian brand TwoWheelCool, is going for one of their new TwoWheelCool products, the silicon style iPhone mount for your bike called the Dash.

Santa Says: Do you have these in red? I’m asking for a friend.

Dave Gower manages theSales & Marketing for Specialized Bicycles Australia and asks: ‘This Christmas, I wish for our new electric bike, the Specialized Turbo, so I can win the Commuter Worlds along Beach Road. Although Santa might want to keep it to replace his reindeers!’

Santa Says: Well, that was the plan, they even did it in the colour I asked for. Unfortunately, Dasher is a union rep, so I won’t be replacing them any time soon due to enterprise bargaining and stuff. You can have the one I’ve been scooting around during the European summer. It’s got a red light on the front and everything – you won’t be excluded from any reindeer games on this.

Danny Brkic of FEsport looks after Garmin, Bolle, Bonk, Barfly and Hincapie, but this Christmas is going directly for his newest brand and is choosing a power meter from Stages for Dura-Ace.

Santa Says: I may be a lefty crank, but Watt are you on about? See what I did there? Santa should be doing stand up.

Darren Rutherford looks after the works biggest bike brand, Giant, and this year has put Oakley Radarlock with the new Photochromatic lenses on his list.

Santa Says: I’ve been wearing Oakleys exclusively since the 80s. They really help with the Aurora on my front doorstep. I’ve got a spare pair of these special Santa edition ones put aside for you.

Further afield, I also asked Patrick Ribera-McKay, who is based in California (which is almost as un-Euro as Australia at Christmas time) and looks after Lezyne worldwide. His heart would be filled with joy if Santa decided to top up his Christmas stocking with some ENVE AM carbon fibre wheels for his mountain bike.